542 Home Nature- Study Course. 



Experiment and see whether the dog walks on as many toes on the front 

 feet as he does on the hind feet. Note that the whole strong leg and the 

 tough feet are shaped especially for running down prey. Note that the 

 dog has tushes for seizing and tearing its prey, and has grinding teeth 

 for chewing. Let them see that when a dog gnaws bones, it does it with 

 its back teeth. Note that the eyes are quite different from those of the 

 cat ; the dog's eyes are not fitted to see in the dark. Note that the hearing 

 is very acute and that the outer ear is movable, so that it may be opened 



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Mateo, a St. Bernard of high [pedigree. 



in the direction of a sound. A good exercise for the pupils to teach them how 

 much this helps in hearing is to bend a paper in the shape of a fan and 

 place it behind their own ears and listen to some far away sound ; they will 

 be able to hear it much plainer with this help. Special stress should 

 be placed upon the dog's sense of smell, which to us seems like a miracle. 

 A fox-hound will follow a fox track all night guided simply by the 

 scent, although the fox may have passed over the trail some hours before. 

 Let them note that the dog recognizes friends or enemies by the scent. 

 Note the covering of the dog; that it is hair instead of fur, like the 

 cat's covering. 



